Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution in your Home or Building

People. 70-90% of what you see floating in a ray of sunshine entering your home is dead human skin flakes. And remember, we can only see about 10% of the airborne pollutants. Dead human skin is a staple of the dust mite diet.

Dust. House dust is a mixture of diverse substances that can cause allergies. House dust is composed of a number of natural substances, including dried food particles, mold spores, pollen, fabric fibers, animal dander, and insect parts, especially those of dust mites and cockroaches. However, particles and debris from dust mites are the major source of allergens in dust. As is the case with other allergens, these particles contain proteins that are small enough to become airborne and inhaled.

Allergens. Pollens, ragweed, and a variety of other allergens find their way into the home from outdoors.

Carpet, Plywood, and other Construction Materials. The “new” smell associated with new carpet, newly painted walls, new home, remodeled room, etc. is actually the out-gassing of the chemical solutions used to treat these products. These are known an VOCs.

Pillows and Blankets. Dust mites comprise over 50% of the weight of the average pillow. Dust mite allergy is an allergic reaction to tiny bugs that commonly live in house dust. Signs of dust mite allergy include sneezing and runny nose. Many people with dust mite allergy also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.

HVAC Systems. Air ducts serve as a fertile breeding ground for mold spores.

Household Cleaners/Aerosols, Insecticides, Pesticides. We literally poison the air we breathe with chemical fumes and toxins when we use these products.

Moist things or humid environments. Mold spores, bacteria, and mildew thrive in dampened towels, wash cloths, and moist or humid areas of the home. Children in homes with high mold show persistent, cold-like symptoms – 300% more than average.

Pets. Airborne animal and/or pet dander (dried spit from the animal that breaks off the end of their hair and floats in air since they are so small) is a common trigger for allergies and asthma. Plus, the feces from your pet emits added contaminates into the air.

Insects and other Bugs. Insects and bugs feces are a powerful allergen. In a recent extensive study by the New England Journal of Medicine, more than half the homes tested had high levels of cockroaches. Children living in these homes were more than three times as likely to be hospitalized for asthma.

Smoking. Smoking in the home or vehicle leaves the air being breathed dense with over 3600 cancer-causing toxins. These toxins also cling to the clothing we wear, and release themselves when we enter other homes and buildings.

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

EcoVive provides treatments that can remove these threats from your home. We use a variety of ways to tackle even the worst cases of indoor air pollution in homes. Our Ozone shock treatments are a great way to sanitize your home. We also employ hospitable grade disinfectants, probiotics and enzymes to make homes safe.

Do you have a home that is causing sickness, or asthma, give us a call today to discuss what we can do for you. 616-401-9176

Fire and Smoke damage odor removal

EcoVive can remove all the odors resulting from Fire and smoke damage. Odor removal requires specialized equipment to ensure success of the process. We use state of the art ozone generators to remove the smoke odor that is left after a fire in homes and businesses.

A fire in a building heats up the air causing the “pores” to open at a molecular level in clothing, carpeting, walls and furniture. With the smoke being hot, it is able to get into these pores. Once the air cools, the smoke is trapped inside. With just a little warmth, the pores open allowing some of the smoke smell to escape. This is why smoke smells never seem to go away.

The solution to totally eliminate the fire and smoke damage odor is with a “ozone shock treatment”. Using ozone generators, we produce enough ozone to seek out and destroy the smoke molecules, leaving only clean, fresh air in the building.

Odor Removal

Ozone is chemical free, non-combustible, and reverts back into oxygen shortly after use. Ozone is active oxygen, nature’s most powerful and purest oxidizing agent. Ozone, like oxygen is natural yet kills contaminants 3000 times faster than chlorine (a corrosive chemical), and is 350 times more powerful. Ozone is FDA and USDA approved, and was certified as organic in 2001. Ozone safely kills, destroys, eliminates, and purifies smoke odors, pet odors, urine odors, strep, staph and H1N1.

Ozone shock treatments provide a safe and cost-effective way to completely rid your home or business of fire and smoke damage odor. Ozone is a “smoke eater” that destroys smoke odors at the molecular level.

Locker room Odor

Locker rooms and gym bathrooms are notorious for the odor that is associated with them. They can have a whole range of nasty locker room odors which include a host of body odors and sweat which are not easy to get rid of.

Over time these odors can build up to create problems that normal cleaning cannot take care of. Due to the elements that are present in these facilities such as sweat, showers and steam rooms which all have moisture, humidity and heat associated with them, locker room odors are produced quickly and the microorganisms which help to create locker room odors can multiply quickly and will thrive in these environments. Along with the odor in locker rooms, viruses and bacteria also thrive in these conditions and which cause further harm to our bodies and bodily systems. These locker room odors and viruses are not easy to eliminate and need to be dealt with in a more aggressive way than purely using chemical based cleaners such as bleach and chlorine to cover them up and try to clean them. The telltale locker room odors that indicate there are microorganisms and bacteria in a location are mustiness and a stale odor that seems to be creating a heavy and potent smell in the surrounding air.

Odor Remediation

Our high output ozone generators and liquid ozone machines are able to get rid of these locker room odors for good and they are able to purify and deodorize an entire facility by destroying the sources of locker room odors at the molecular level. Our ozone machines are able to generate massive amounts of ozone molecules in a space and release them into the area so that they can naturally deodorize and purify the air within the facility. While our chemical free Ozone treatment is killing the locker room odors, they also make the air cleaner and healthier for all to breathe in. Ozone is known as nature’s air purifier and it is able to make clean, odor free air in facilities where it is important for people to be breathing in healthy, clean and safe air. Our odor removal technologies are green and environmentally friendly. Instead of being hit by a smell of chlorine, bleach, sweat and other body odors, it is refreshing to be able to walk into a sporting facility which has no locker room odors, just a fresh, clean scent!

Home Allergy Testing

You notice while you are home that you feel lethargic, sneeze more and watery eyes are common for you. This is not always the symptoms of a cold. Sometimes, it is an allergic reaction to something in the air in your home. According to The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), allergic diseases are among the major causes of illness and disability in the United States, affecting as many as 40 to 50 million Americans. Health experts estimate that 35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory tract symptoms that are allergic reactions to airborne allergens. The respiratory symptoms of asthma, which affect approximately 11 million Americans, are often provoked by airborne allergens.

With our indoor allergen testing, we can determine if high levels of allergens are present in your home or business and help you locate the source and eliminate it.

Allergies are a specific reaction of the body’s immune system to a normally harmless substance, one that does not bother most people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one substance. Our inspectors can test for types of allergens that cause allergic reactions such as:

Pollens

House Dust Mites

Mold Spores

Animal Dander

The following signs and symptoms of airborne allergies are familiar to many:

Sneezing, often with a runny or clogged nose.

Coughing and postnasal drip.

Itching eyes, nose, and throat.

Watering Eyes.

Conjunctivitis.

Knowing what is causing allergies is the first step in creating a healthy indoor environment. Eliminating the allergen triggers can be done through proper cleaning, the use of the proper filters, and indoor air treatments that will eliminate most triggers.

Having your home or business tested for allergens is the first step to feeling better if you suffer from allergic reactions or if you suspect you may have allergies.

Home Purification Treatment

Indoor air pollution is recognized as one of the major health concerns facing the nation today causing Allergy Symptoms, Asthma, Headaches, Fatigue, Nausea and many severe and even unknown illnesses. The EPA estimates that the indoor levels of many pollutants are 2-5 times higher, and on occasion, 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Because of this, the EPA ranks indoor air as one of the top five environmental threats to human health. ). Further, the EPA has also stated that today’s homes contain an estimated 1,500 hazardous compounds from approximately 3,000 man-made products. In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by the EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top 5 environmental risks to public health.

An Ozone Home Purification Treatment, aka, Ozone Shock Therapy, can dramatically improve indoor air quality by destroying mold & mildew, pet odors, tobacco odors, living organisms, germs, viruses, harmful VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) etc., creating a much cleaner, safer atmosphere in your home and work environment. Ozone is a Natural Occurrence in Nature. It is produced by natural occurrences such as thunderstorms, lightning strikes and waterfalls. In fact, the fresh, clean-smelling air you breathe after a storm is a lingering result of ozone. We are pleased to provide this service improving the indoor air quality for you and your family.

Even low levels of pollutants produced by these products can affect human health over a period of months or years. Modern construction, our desire for more efficient homes, the resulting over-insulating and under ventilating of our homes have given rise to an explosion of molds and mildews, as well as other fungi, which are the cause of the swelling epidemic known as Sick Building Syndrome. Is your home or workplace making you sick?

Whether it is an odor problem or sick building syndrome there is now a solution to this modern day problem. We offer one of the safest and most effective procedures for purifying a home, office, vehicle or any indoor space of odors, allergens, airborne mold spores, dust mites and VOC’s that may be polluting your indoor environment.

Our Home Purification Treatment will ensure that the air you breathe is both clean and healthy.

Healthy Indoor Air

Indoor air pollution is recognized as one of the major health concerns facing the nation today causing Allergy Symptoms, Asthma, Headaches, Fatigue, Nausea and many severe and even unknown illnesses. The EPA estimates that the indoor levels of many pollutants are 2-5 times higher, and on occasion, 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Because of this, the EPA ranks indoor air as one of the top five environmental threats to human health. An Ozone Air Sterilization can dramatically improve indoor air quality by destroying mold & mildew, pet odors, tobacco odors, living organisms, germs, viruses, harmful VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) etc, creating a much cleaner, safer atmosphere in your home and work environment. Ozone is a Natural Occurrence in Nature. It is produced by natural occurrences such as thunderstorms, lightning strikes and waterfalls. In fact, the fresh, clean-smelling air you breathe after a storm is a lingering result of ozone. We are pleased to provide this service creating Healthy Indoor Air for the health of you and your family.

The ONLY way to truly sanitize an area contaminated with mold, viruses, bacteria, or serious odors is with very high levels of ozone. Our Ozone generators produce intense Ozone levels creating an environment impossible for any organism to survive thus, ridding your home of these concerns. Our Ozone generators produce enough ozone to purify a 3,000 sq ft home in just a few hours! Leaving behind no toxic chemicals.

To reduce sickness and absenteeism in the work or school environment, creating healthy indoor air is important. A bi-weekly or monthly sterilization treatment could be scheduled and performed after work hours.

Our Ozone Air Treatments are performed only when NO people, pets, or plants are present. This is because a high toxic level of ozone is needed to kill the germs, mold, bacteria, odor and viruses present in the treatment area. Within 1 hour after treatment is complete, the environment is safe and refreshed with NO lingering residue to clean up. We are pleased to provide this service improving the health of you and your family.

Indoor Air Quality

Your family’s health begins at home. Most people consider protecting their health by focusing on diet, exercise and regular medical exams. Too often, we overlook another key factor in good health – having good indoor air quality in the home.

According to a survey conducted by the American Lung Association, 85 percent of Americans don’t realize that the air in their homes may be a health hazard. But, in fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. It estimates that indoor air levels may be two to five times more polluted, and occasionally, 100 times more polluted, than outdoor air. These levels of indoor pollutants are of particular concern, because it is estimated that most people spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors.

The American Lung Association reports that indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.

For many years people have been led to believe that cleaning with chemicals, with bleach being the number one recommended chemical, was the best way to improve their indoor air quality. with the advancement in Ozone technology and training, Ozone is a better choice for improving indoor air quality.

Ozone kills microorganisms on contact by cellularlysis and cytoplasm dispersion- it directly ruptures the cell walls of the microorganisms, which results in an instantaneous death. By comparison, bleach kills bacteria by diffusing through the cell wall and then oxidizing the enzymes within the cell. In contrast to bleach, ozone disinfection does not produce any harmful residues and is considered as an environmentally friendly disinfectant. This makes it ideal for use in medical applications, for example in hospitals or doctors waiting rooms. The main advantage of ozone compared to other treatment methods for air disinfection is that it is able to efficiently disinfect a large air volume. In contrast to UV radiation and HEPA filter, ozone is a gas that could penetrate to every corners of the room, thus it could disinfect the entire room effectively. Given the advantages of strong oxidizing power, good penetration capacity and no harmful residues left after the treatment, ozone may be recommended to be used in disinfection of contaminated environments. As of June 2001, ozone has gained FDA approval as a sanitizer not only for food contact surfaces but also for direct application on food.

In a time when bacteria and viruses are getting stronger, sanitation of indoor environments is becoming more important.

Traditional cleaning methods are a small step in the right direction in the fight against bacteria. Yes these chemicals, including chlorine, will eliminate germs after a period of time, but not only are these chemicals not as effective as ozone and BioZone, the use of chemicals over and over can have an adverse effect on our health. Traditional cleaning only affects about 30% of an indoor space. Effective sanitizing with household chemicals would require every square inch of surface be wiped. This would require a lot of time, money, and bring about major health concerns.

How does EcoVive Sanitizing differ from typical sanitizing? Our Ozone cleanse system eliminates labor-intensive hand wiping and rinsing typically required with other methods. Our system can sanitize locations such as daycare centers, classrooms, offices, gyms, locker rooms, hotel rooms, kitchens, boats, Rv’s, and entire homes against a multitude of germs, allergens, odors and indoor contaminants in a fraction of the time required using other application systems. NO chemicals are introduced into your home or office during a home sanitizing with Ozone. Ozone reverts back to Oxygen after it has done its job.

Ozone is a broad base sanitizer. Ozone will disinfect 3000 times faster and is 50 times more powerful than chlorine bleach. It is a gas that will work on every surface and will penetrate soft surfaces (carpet, draperies, mattresses, furnishings). When the Ozone Cleanse treatment is complete, your interior will be 99.9% sanitized. Follow up with our BioZone treatment for 90 days of protection from germs, odors, mold, allergens, and disease.

If you are concerned about the quality of the air in your indoor environment, give EcoVive a call. We can help. 616-401-9176, or visit our website for more information. Eco-vive.com

Fitness centers in Michigan have top-of-the-line fitness equipment, some complete with interactive workout monitoring and web access, many things to draw in and keep members.

But no one wants to use a gym that smells of day-old sweat or has dirty equipment or facilities. The consequences of a dirty gym go well beyond aesthetics, of course. The spread of germs and viruses through contact with equipment is a serious health concern.

Most fitness facilities don’t have the staff required to clean each piece of equipment after every use. Instead, they rely on users to wipe down their machines when finished by offering either spray cleaners or wipes. What type of cleaning product a facility offers matters less than how it’s used; both spray cleaners and wipes can only be effective if used correctly, and damaging to equipment and end-users if not.

The best way to prevent infections is to be proactive. We offer an antimicrobial surface treatment that stays on the surface for months with a germ inhibiting action. The protectant is applied to hard or soft surfaces, but unlike most sanitizers, ours works 24/7 for months to attack pathogens on the surface. The protectant sets up a field of razor sharp edges that rip the outer membrane of bacteria, virus, and fungi. They die shortly after contact.

The impact of this treatment would be like a human falling into a lion pit of sharp stakes. Because this is not a chemical reaction like bleach or phenols, the process works day and night to keep surface bacteria, virus, and fungus free.

Our treatment can be more than a defensive effort to protect your patron’s health. It can be a very positive part of your new member promotion. Unlike other gyms doing little more than cleaning to stop infection, your EcoVive protected facility is like a self-cleaning program where all exposed surfaces are constantly destroying germs after every use. A properly Protected facility should be a strong reason for any germaphobe to select your workout center over any others.

EcoVive is a certified Michigan Odor removal company.

To find out more about how we can help please visit our website, or give us a call at: 616-401-9176

Ozone (O3) is a naturally occurring gas. It is an unstable molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. In nature, ozone is made when lightning or ultraviolet rays split apart oxygen gas (O2) molecules high in the atmosphere. At the surface of the earth, ozone is usually unnoticeable at its normal concentration of 0.01-0.05 parts per million (ppm). You only become aware of ozone in the air at higher concentrations, such as after a thunderstorm—that fresh, clean, somewhat zingy smell.

O3 is the most reactive substance known, save only free fluoride ions. This high re-activity means that O3 doesn’t last long; it immediately transfers that pesky third oxygen atom to any organic compound it touches and returns to stable oxygen. In the process, that organic compound is oxidized—chemically changed, as in burned. This means that ozone instantly annihilates enzymes, microbial membranes and unpleasant taste- and odor-causing compounds. Ozone destroys on contact all known bacteria, virus, molds, spores, yeast, mildew, microscopic fungi and bio films (toughened colonies of microorganisms on surfaces).

Ozone kills microbes much faster than weaker oxidizers like chlorine. O3 will kill microbes up to 5,000 times faster. But unlike chlorine, O3 oxidation leaves no harmful or foul byproducts and the only residue is oxygen. Further, microorganisms can’t build up a tolerance to ozone as they can to less reactive chemicals like chlorine. Because it’s highly reactive and unstable, ozone doesn’t persist—any ozone not instantly consumed by contact oxidation of organics quickly reverts to oxygen.

This makes this “green” system the perfect choice as an odor removal and sanitizing tool.

It’s time we turned away from the chemicals that are now used to control odor and sanitize, and start using the truly “green” way. Many of the chemicals have been proven to cause illness and mental health problems in humans.

To have your home or business sanitized and made odor free, give us a call today. 616-401-9176